Bill Doyle’s Not-So-Top-10-List of obscure songs

Every Friday night I request a song from Big Joe Henry; a song that was a big hit in its day, but gets no love from radio now. Here are my most recent requests:

“Tarzan Boy” by Baltimora.

Baltimora isn’t a group, but just a single guy, Jimmy McShane, of Northern Ireland. Released in 1985, “Tarzan Boy” peaked at #13 (big hit!!). It charted again in 1993 as part of a movie soundtrack, but didn’t do as well. McShane died in 1995 at the age of 37 of AIDS.

“Ah! Leah!” by Donnie Iris His biggest was my “My Girl” (#25 in 1982), but I always liked Ah! Leah! Better.

“Ebony Eyes” by Rick James & Smokey Robinson Everybody knows “Superfreak” (#16 in 1981), but this song that peaked in 1984 features the incomparable Smokey!

“Vienna Calling” by Falco Most people think Falco was a one hit wonder, but not only did he have a follow up hit to his number one “Rock Me Amadeus”, it was pretty big, too. “Vienna Calling” peaked at #18 in 1986.

“Invisible” by Alison Moyet The British born Moyet rose to fame as the lead singer of Yaz, but scored her biggest hit, “Invisible”, as a solo artist; it rose to #31 in 1985.

“Pleasure and Pain” by The Divinyls “I Touch Myself” was a #4 hit in 1991, but “Pleasure and Pain” was a Hot 100 hit five years earlier.